Originally posted on the Official Google BlogTwenty years ago, we used paper maps and printed guides to help us navigate the world. Today, the most advanced digital mapping technologies—satellite imagery, GPS devices, location data and of course Google Maps—are much more accessible. This sea change in mapping technology is improving our lives and helping businesses realize untold efficiencies. The transformation of the maps we use everyday is driven by a growing industry that creates jobs and economic growth globally. To present a clearer picture of the importance of the geo services industry, we commissioned studies from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Oxera. What we found is that maps make a big economic splash around the world. In summary, the global geo services industry is valued at up to $270 billion per year and pays out $90 billion in wages. In the U.S., it employs more than 500,000 people and is worth $73 billion. The infographic below illustrates some examples of the many benefits of maps, whether it’s improving agriculture irrigation systems or helping emergency response teams save lives.

Click the image for a larger version1.1 billion hours of travel time saved each year? That’s a lot of time. Also, consider UPS, which uses map technology to optimize delivery routes—saving 5.3 million miles and more than 650,000 gallons of fuel in 2011. And every eight seconds, a user hails a taxi with Hailo, which used maps and GPS to deliver more than 1 million journeys in London alone last year. Finally, Zipcar uses maps to connect more than 760,000 customers to a growing fleet of cars in locations around the world. Because maps are such an integral part of how we live and do business, the list of examples goes on and on. That’s why it’s important we all understand the need to invest in the geo services industry so it continues to grow and drive the global economy. Investments can come from the public and private sectors in many forms—product innovation, support of open data policies, more geography education programs in schools and more. We’re proud of the contributions that Google Maps and Earth, the Google Maps APIs and our Enterprise solutions have made to the geo services industry and to making maps more widely available, but there’s a long way to go. To learn more about the impact of the maps industry, see the full reports. Posted by Brian McClendon, VP Google Geo

Battle of the BrothersIn Canada, searches for 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh are outpacing searches for his brother, and Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh by 85 %.Cue the CommercialsIn 2012, Canadians searched for ‘super bowl commercials’ on both Google and YouTube more than any other country in the world, including the U.S. In each of the last two years, PEI and Ontario searched the most on Google for “super bowl”; yet, Saskatchewan and Alberta recorded the highest volume of searches for ‘super bowl commercials’Super Bowl of CaloriesWhat's your game day menu? Canadian Google searches for “Chicken Wings” peak every year during the week of the Super Bowl. Super Bowl vs. Stanley CupHow much do Canadians love the Super Bowl? According to Google Search Trends, Canadians search for the “Super Bowl” more than we search for our beloved Stanley Cup. In 2012, there were twice as many searches on Google for ‘Super Bowl’ in Canada than ‘Stanley Cup’. And as we get closer to the championship game this weekend, search activity is once again on the rise. In the last 7 days alone, Google searches in Canada for ‘Super Bowl’ have risen more than 480%.Ravens vs. 49ers - Search ShowdownSearches for the Ravens and the 49ers are in a dead heat in the US. But it’s a different story in Canada, where searches for the Baltimore Ravens are outpacing 49ers searches by 45 percent. As we’ve seen in years past, geographic allegiances seem to factor into search activity as British Columbia is showing the highest search rates for the San Francisco 49ers and Ontario has the highest volume of Baltimore Ravens Searches. Nationally, Nova Scotia is leading all provinces in searches for “Super Bowl”.

Battle of the BrothersIn Canada, searches for 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh are outpacing searches for his brother, and Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh by 85 %.Cue the CommercialsIn 2012, Canadians searched for ‘super bowl commercials’ on both Google and YouTube more than any other country in the world, including the U.S. In each of the last two years, PEI and Ontario searched the most on Google for “super bowl”; yet, Saskatchewan and Alberta recorded the highest volume of searches for ‘super bowl commercials’Super Bowl of CaloriesWhat's your game day menu? Canadian Google searches for “Chicken Wings” peak every year during the week of the Super Bowl.

A big round of applause for the top 15 channels selected for the YouTube Next How-to Guru program, and a special congratulations to Canada's own www.youtube.com/BeforeAndAfterTV!

Last month, we asked you to submit your channels if you created amazing tutorials, how-tos and lessons - and you delivered. We’ve been busy writing brand new New Year’s Resolutions about everything from learning how to get fit, how to make bread or how to knit a scarf - inspirational stuff, indeed. And with the help of these motivating how-to gurus, we’ll better be able to keep up with our resolutions!

So without further ado, we present to you the top 15 winners, who will all receive private Google+ workshop series from industry experts and YouTube staff about best practices in developing long-lasting channels on YouTube, $4,000 worth of production equipment, and promotion on YouTube.

Get to know our newest how-to channels below, and make sure you subscribe to stay up-to-date with their tutorials.

With the growing use of smartphones and tablets, is the desktop computer as we know it, dead? That’s the question BNN’s Tony Keller asked his guests on the channel’s afternoon flagship show, Headline.

Rory Capern, Google Canada’s strategic partnerships lead, was on the air to challenge the premise, discussing how what’s actually happening is the evolution to a four-screen world, where consumers are constantly connected and moving between their desktop, tablet, TV and smartphone depending on where they are and what they’re doing.

In the four-screen world, what matters is creating platforms that let consumers move seamlessly between the screens they want to use, and understanding how having four screens is changing our behaviour – like the 77% of TV viewers who just can’t get enough of one screen and now use a second screen at the same time, surfing or sharing while they watch.

After a long lockout, the NHL’s regular (albeit shortened) season begins tomorrow as all seven Canadian teams take to the ice. And a quick peek at Google Trends suggest that Canadian hockey fans’ long winter of discontent may be over, as hockey-related searches surge across the country.

Looking at the last 90 days, NHL-related searches were over 100 percent higher over the same time period last year. However, following news of the lockout ending, search activity has spiked, and NHL searches are almost exactly where they were at this time last year.